15 years ago, this title wouldn’t have even been a debate. Nike was the clear favorite amongst all hoopers everywhere. Adidas was a soccer brand. We felt that it was silly that they even tried to make a basketball shoe. After all, if you weren’t wearing Nikes, you were wearing their other brand famously known as Jordan’s. The only real reason you would wear a pair of adidas basketball shoes is if your parents had never played, but put you in basketball at the age of 6 and found the cheapest deal. Anyone who knew anything about the game knew it was Jordan or Nike.
Just as Steph Curry has changed the game strategically and analytically. What is on the feet of the players has changed as well. Adidas revolutionized their basketball presence about 8 years ago with the signing of the beloved superstar Derrick Rose, more commonly known as D-Rose. Kids idolized him for the way he played. He was quite off the court, but a killer on it. He took an entire city on his back. Chicago was longing for another franchise player since Michael Jordan left. They were brutal, until D-Rose came to town. He was also a hometown Windy City kid. The city and the country loved this young man. He shoes started selling like hotcakes, as a kid if you didn’t have the D-Roses you were an afterthought in the basketball culture.
Adidas has been known for their lighter shoes. Nike has been known for more bulk but more comfort. In high school I needed and wanted every bit of quickness and vertical that I could get. I bought the same shoe 3 times in a row. The Adidas Crazy Lights. You couldn’t even feel them on your feet, you felt like you could fly around the court. Know that I’m older and more prone to being sore and slightly injured I go with the Paul George Nikes. They are definitely heavier than the Crazy lights, but their more comfortable, and have the sock like style when you put them on.
Lately the big names for Adidas are James Harden, Damian Lillard, and Donovan Mitchell. While Nike has Lebron James, Paul George, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving. It’s safe to say that Nike is still the frontrunner. According to Forbes Nike basketball shoes were worn by 62.6% of NBA players wore Nike last year, with Adidas being second with 15.8% and third was Jordan at 9.4% with other brands taking up the last 12.2% such as Under Armour, Puma, New Balance, Anta, Li-Ning, and Big Baller Brand.
Adidas is m moving in the right direction in basketball. They are no longer known as a soccer brand only. As they continue to strategically sign up and coming players and lead the innovation in creating the best product for the court, they will see their market share increase and take from Nike’s.
Hoopers World 